Ikki, an optimist who isn't afraid of anything, begins working at a small restaurant when he finds himself charmed by the owner. It's there that he runs into Ryuu, and from Ryuu, he hears Toshimitsu's name, one that's oddly familiar.Neither Ikki nor Ryuu can seem to get away from Toshimitsu, and now their mysterious shared past will lead to an unknown future.

I absolutely loved this story. From the execution of the narrative plot to the aesthetics it was perfect. Especially, the scene at the end where we are shown Toshimitsu's childhood because it really gets across the point about how we are shaped by our circumstances; the company we keep and don't keep, and that there are matters (social forces) which are out of our control. But,

Spoiler (mouse over to view)

wtf is up with that rape scene? How can Ryuu fall in love with Toshimitsu after being repeatedly, REPEATEDLY, violated by him? And it's not like Toshimitsu was gentle when he had sex with him. This to me is what brings this manga down. It's not that Toshimitsu rapes his own cousin with whom he plays with affection in childhood that well explained within the narrative universe but the raped-turned-lover bit is repulsive. Can this happen? I don't know, but if it is going to happen then there better be a good explanation for it offered by the person who was raped, and no one else.

It was a good a touching manga. Toshi influenced big time our other 2 main characters lifes. And by dissapearing from their side, he did them a favour. Ikki changed, because he found a role-model. He became a good guy, so he could one day lead Toshi to become one too, after he was released from jail. Toshi' character was so pitiful tho.

Spoiler (mouse over to view)

He died for the sake of Ryu, at least that's what I felt. He saw during his trip, that he would drag Ryu down with him, and he didn't want that. So, he jumped from that building, wearing his jacket, feeling free. That was his choice, not to dig the bottom any more, but to fly. For Ryu to be released from his spell. Toshi truly loved Ryu, it is shown very well in the very last bits, showing how tenedrly Toshi is holding baby Ryu, telling him "Ryu is a good boy". So, Toshi's life didn't go to waste, because Ikki changed, Ryu did too. They became good guys. Toshi's wish was granted.

The biggest good point of this story is that it's so realistic. It makes you think, feel and cry with it. It illustrates a whole different world far from your normal life where cruel fate pushed people who are living a normal peaceful life to the bottom of the world filled with crime, fights, and drugs. It's magical how love and affection can still find it way there in the depth of hell to warm up their worn-out soul.

Toshimitsu' fate is cruel, tragic, and regretful but he still has people weeping for his death. Even if he died, his death brought two strangers together. It moved me to tear how people still support each other with love and kindness and try their best to live even in the crappy world we are living in. It's amazing to be able to feel so calmed and assured from someone's warmth and so supported by someone calling your name. It's a tragic story, yes! But as it steadily gets closer to the end, it becomes more and more heart-warming. I love Dokuro Jaryuu's manga so much.

...Toshimitsu killed himself? Because he realized how crappy his life and his 'self' are? Even so, why he chose death? Becaue he thought he would never get himself out from the mess he WAS and the mess he was in?

Now to the review...All I can say is everyone changed side too fast. They grow, they change, they love, they bonded. How? Why? I don't know. I would appreciate it if someone told me, so that I could appreciate this manga more.

Spoiler (mouse over to view)

Ryuu was Toshimitsu's rape victim until, wait, he's actually in love with Toshimitsu... why? How? He was raped!!! Guys, Ryuu was raped!!! What's the matter with you, aren't you usually bothered by rape-turn-love kind of thing?! Well, I WAS bothered, since I just didn't understand how anyone could love their rapist. I'm not saying it's impossible, if the mangaka actually showed us why, I could accept it.Ikki was a total brutal psycho, then Toshimitsu left him and he was changed by Mineyama-san. How? I don't know, well it wasn't that important, all you have to know is Mineyama-san is a great man and he changed Ikki. Why Ikki wanted to be someone like Mineyama-san is a mystery to me, I guess everyone just naturally wanted to be someone who, in their opinion, was great. But I see no trace of the man who slammed a woman's head to the floor while he's getting a blowjob from her, I just see a former usual delinquent. Toshimitsu was a free soul and he had his own principles, until he was arrested for murder (or drug using? He was in rehab, right?), had this weird (but I LOVE the symbolization here) dream, and killed himself... why? I guess it's a complicated thing to understand why someone killed him/herself, and they did what they did for various reason, but... isn't it mangaka's responsibility to give us a story, not just events?Ikki and Ryuu met each other for the first time, shared their story about Toshimitsu, and decided to stay 'together' (and yeah, they had sex somewhere in the middle of it. I was like, 'sigh...I know it's coming')... why?People don't DO that. Okay, okay, I know. It's about two people who were bonded by the death of a very special someone. But there's this important part of a story called 'plot'. You can't just show some ideas and some related events and expect the readers to make a story out of it.

This is a perfect example of why Jaryuu Dokuro is one of the best BL artists in the industry.

Basically, Endless World can be summed up as a highly visual, heartfelt and provocative character analysis of one man (Toshimitsu) who brought together two strangers through his own chain of poor decisions. Truly, it's a story of redemption and existential growth.

I love how the POV of characters intersect and interweave between those three, and readers get to see the narrative from the three distinct characters: one a victim of rape, another the abuser, and the last a redeemed delinquent who's an example of what both the previous characters could (or could have) become.

There are controversial and mature themes, so if you're looking for a cutesy BL love story, this is not for you. If you want a challenge, or a story where you come out feeling where your own whole worldview feels enriched after reading -- your own limits pushed -- this is definitely a tale you want to try.

Endless World was so HUMAN, raw and emotional that I could not stop reading it mid-way. I finished it in an hour. The art style is also gritty and organic, almost as if the lines Dokuro draws want to break out of the page to reach you.

Thanks so much to V&D for sharing this amazing work. I really hope more and more unique works like this can be released and published. It's the reason why I'm still in love with this genre.

The art is beautiful, and there is enough hot scenes and angst.. But even so, I wasn't really hooked by the story. Maybe it's because there was only one likable person for me - cute Ryou.

Spoiler (mouse over to view)

I don't get why 2 main characters are so obsessed with Toshimitsu. The only ideas I've got from this story are either he was great at sex, or both Ryou and Ikki are as narrow-minded as Toshi. And I don't see why plain brutal bully Ikki would suddenly turn into gentle cute refined loving person o_O. It's a complete sudden change of personality.

It looks as if the story lacks something, like there is not enough character description, their background, to make me understand and like Ikki or Toshi, and to be touched by all the relationships described in manga.

What a story! The author did a brilliant job on making this one. This is not the typical yaoi manga I've usually read yet it is very interesting. Actually, at first, I couldn't catch up what's going in the beginning, but later on, I found it amazing. Even the characters are very good. Each of them has its own personality. I found Ryuu very interesting. Though he's not the typical uke that we usually know of being so cute and beautiful, I found him VERY SEXY. He has the charisma. And I think Toshimitsu actually love him. Yes, Toshimitsu also liked Ikki but I think, Ryuu is more special than Ikki. I like ToshimitsuxRyuu love team.

Rape, death, drugs! Yeah I'd had enough! Wasn't interested! I am so happy I ignored my assumptions of what I thought this would be, because I wasn't even close!

The combination of humour (which almost felt out of place) and, can I call it the corrupting forces in this world, made an amazingly emotional and interesting ride; though also painful perspective of three different people. This is a bitter story with a bitter-sweet ending (imo) I feel the ending doesn't leave you empty, like I thought it would. Though one life ended tragically through a destructive lifestyle, two others turned out promisingly for the better.

It's not supposed to be long nor too complex, just an interpretation; and one I enjoyed, one some will not. Don't touch it if you can't stand hardcore yaoi, dark ambience, abuse, or plots that are 'vague' in some regards. You will hate this ...or maybe you will love it!

I'm not used to this kind of, would it even be "Yaoi" (the penises and men are so beefy and veiny that this book could easily be categorized as a gay/bara manga)

I mean, the story is emotionally moving and all but the face that it shows graphically depicted hetero as well... I mean, I don't know what to think. The art itself was really rough too.

My friend had me read this so... I did. I didn't want to continue reading. The imagery is a real turn-off. But I have never been a fan of Dokuro Jaryuu so. I suppose my opinion doesn't completely mean much.

Oh, this is absolutely gorgeous. I'd rate it a perfect ten, but a small criteria of mine that this manga missed is strong female presence, and not an objectified one! Though I'm acknowledging that in this particular story, it had absolutely no place for it.

That aside, the story was gritty, dripping of humanity, love, and life despite the dark tones and talk of death, and just... wonderfully heartbreaking. The artwork told as much story as the words did, if not more. Probably an anomaly, me, but I felt at peace with the ending. How could I not, it's such a beautiful sentiment that was given, having an endless world.

I kind of see that it's not for everyone, so, heed the categories and genre labeled for this story and treat them as warnings.

Spoiler (mouse over to view)

Finally had a cry with that baby!Ryuu bit. Actually, just thinking about it makes me teary. *wibbles*